Croatia has become the 28th member of the European Union, with crowds joining celebrations in the capital Zagreb. It comes almost two decades after Croatia’s brutal war of independence.

United Nations soldiers will take over from African troops in conflict-scarred Mali from Monday, making up the organisation’s third-largest peacekeeping force by the end of the year. A 12,600-strong force will take over security duties from French troops who entered Mali in January to halt an Islamist advance

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy will on Monday confer with Serbian officials in Belgrade. Several other EU officials will visit next week as a result of the Council’s decision to open membership talks with Serbia.